4 Day Family Vacation in Antigua, Guatemala

You're likely to arrive in La Aurora International Airport (GUA) at noon. Grab lite snacks while at the airport and hop in your preferred airport transportation to Antigua, Guatemala as it is 38 kilometers away. Check-in to your hotel, rest for a few minutes and head to Plaza Mayor (Parque Central) to appreciate the center of the historic colonial town of Antigua. From there, you can walk towards various restaurants or to the Night Market near Iglesia De La Merced for Guatemalan street food.

After an early breakfast at the hotel (or nearby), embark on a highly recommended three-hour adventure ATV Tour. Guatemala is famous for their coffee and during this recommended ATV Tour, guest get to visit local coffee plantation and participate in an educational coffee tour. After enjoying a hot cup, guests ride up to Cerro de la Cruz (Hill of the Cross) where guests can appreciate the amazing city view and surrounding volcanoes and mountains. Once back into town, make your way to visit the most scenic McDonald's in Central America and try their unique menu only available in Antigua. After a familiar yet unique lunch, venture to one of the colorful artisan markets and immerse yourself to the rich arts and culture translated to one-of-a-kind souvenir for keeps. Once the sun is about to set, dine-in any of the many restaurants and try Guatemala’s national dish “Pepian” – a delicious and hearty dish that’s thick and exotic like curry.

On this day, ensure you know what time the sun will rise and make sure you are at the Santa Catalina Arch to have a wonderful crowd-less photo opportunity with the iconic 17th-century landmark that withstood plenty of earthquakes over the centuries. Once satisfied with your poses, grab breakfast at a local cafe or at the unique Starbucks location that offers only Guatemalan coffee. Afterwards, ride a Tuk-Tuk (small three-wheeled motorized vehicle) to Tanque La Union and enjoy the views before going inside the Santa Clara Convent to explore the ruins. The convent did not survive the devastating earthquake of 1773. Make sure you bring enough Guatemalan Quetzal as only cash is accepted. Walking through the hauntingly beautiful ruins, you will appreciate the air of majesty it maintained and Spanish colonial architecture. You'll likely finish your tour of the ruins around lunchtime. For lunch, head to Rincón Antigüeño, a Guatemalan restaurant that offers highly rated dishes including "Pepian". After lunch, you can opt for spa or massage services or join Choco Museo's Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Workshop and get creative with your own chocolate creation. For dinner, surprise yourself with other local dishes offered by the many restaurants in Antigua.

You're likely to opt for an early flight home. Thus, after breakfast, hop into preferred mode of transportation to La Aurora International Airport. Plan to be at the airport at least three hours prior to scheduled departure. While inflight, make sure to keep an eye on the view below as you will be rewarded with spectacular activity by Volcan de Fuego.